Toggle switch seal



March 1966 M. MORSE 3,237,460

'IOGGLE SWITCH SEAL Filed Sept. 25; 1964 United States Patent 3,237,460 TOGGLE SWITCH SEAL Milton Morse, 1 Horizon Road, Fort Lee, NJ. Filed Sept. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 398,586 3 Claims. (Cl. 7418.1)

This invention relates generally to the field of hermetic sealing devices, and more particularly to an improved internally contained toggle switch seal which may be installed at the time of manufacture.

Toggle switches of the instant type normally include an operating mechanism in which a toggle lever is disposed within a hollow bushing, the outer end of the toggle lever being manually engageable, and the inner end thereof engaging directly or indirectly the contact elements of the switch to make and break an electric circuit. In that type of switch which is installed within a circular hole in a metal plate or facing, the bushing is threaded, and it is known in the art to effect a hermetic seal between the bushing and the plate. However, such seal does not effect a sealing of the toggle lever with respect to the bushing, so that it is possible for moisture, pressure differentials and the like to reach the switch by passing through the interstice between the toggle lever and the bushing.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved sealing device which may be installed between the toggle lever and the bushing at the time the switch is manufactured which will effectively seal the interstice existing therebetween.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a sealing device of the class described in which the seal is effected by providing a permanent bond between relatively movable surfaces, rather then relying upon the natural resiliency of the sealing material.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved sealing device of the class described in which the cost of fabrication may be of a very low order, thereby permitting consequent wide sale, distirbution and use.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved sealing device which may be formed entirely from silicone rubber, whereby the same may be impervious to temperature variations, as well as chemicals, gasses and acids.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that the seal may be fabricated and installed during the process of assembly of the bushing and toggle lever, rather then at the time the bushing is installed within an opening in a metallic plate, thereby eliminating the possibility of damage thereto at the time of installation of the switch with which the toggle lever and bushing are associated.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation of a toggle element comprising a part of an embodiment of the invention, a sealing element being indicated in dash lines.

FIGURE 2 is a view in elevation of a bushing comprising another part of the embodiment.

FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation, partly in section of a sealing element prior to interposition between the element shown in FIGURES l and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal central sectional view showing the embodiment in assembled condition.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character is illustrated in FIG- URE 4 in conjunction with a toggle switch operating mech- "ice anism 11, the mechanism 11 including an outer bushing element 12 and a toggle lever element 13.

The bushing element 12 is of elongated cylindrical configuration, including an outer end surface 15, an inner end surface 16, and an outer threaded surface 17 including a rabbeted portion for installation within a hole in a plate or other support (not shown). Extending axially of the bushing element 12 is a centrally disposed bore 19, including an upper tapered portion 20, a short first cylindrical portion 21, a spherical surface 22, a second cylindrical portion 23, an arcuate recess 24, a second tapered portion 25, and a third cylindrical portion 26. The arcuate recess 24 includes an outer cylindrical surface 28 and an arcuate bottom surface 29. To prevent possible cutting of the device 10, the surfaces 27 and 28 are provided with rounded edges at 30 and 32.

The toggle lever element 13 includes an outer end 35 and an inner end 36 communicating with a central bore 37 in which switch operating means (not shown) may be inserted, the details of which form no part of the present disclosure. The outer end 35 is provided with a tapered outer surface 38, while the inner end 36 includes a cylindrical surface 39.

First and second annular projections 41 and 42 are formed on the inner end 36 to define a cylindrical groove 34.

The first annular projection 41 is bounded by an outer spherical surface 44 and an inner tapered surface 45 leading to the groove 43. The second annular projection 42 includes a radial surface 46 and .a cylindrical surface 47, the projections 41 and 42 each being provided with rounded edges 48 and 49 leading to the groove 43. The groove 43 is bounded by radial surfaces 50 and 51 and a cylindrical bottom surface 52.

The device 10 is preferably in the form of a planar washer of flexible, at least slightly resilient, material, as for example silicone rubber, although natural rubber may be used as well. As best seen in FIGURE 3, the same is bounded by first and second planar surfaces 56 and 57, respectively, an inner arcuate surface 58, and an outer arcuate surface 59.

The device is assembled by coating the arcuate surfaces 43 and 24 with an uncured sealing material 60 and 61, respectively. In the case where silicone rubber is employed, the sealing material may be uncured silicone rubber. The device 10 is then installed upon the toggle lever element 13 as shown in dash lines in FIGURE 1, and following this operation the toggle lever element 13 is positioned within the outer bushing element 12. The outer arcuate surface 59 may be pushed into contact with the recess 24 using a small circular tool (not shown) the diameter of which is just larger than the diameter of the projection 42. In this condition, the assembly consisting of elements 10 and 11 is subjected to the action of heat to cure the uncured material 60-431 in situ, employing, if desired, the teaching of my prior Patent No. 2,938,070.

It is to be emphasized that the inner and outer diameters of the device 10 substantially correspond to the diameter of the groove 43 and recess 24, so that no reliance is placed upon the resiliency of the material once the bonding operation has been completed. Thus, with continued use, should the device 10 lose its resiliency, the sealing action is none-the-less effective for so long a time as the bonding remains effective. Normally, as the silicone rubber ages, its flexibility will far out-last its resiliency, so that the seal may be reasonably expected to exist for the useful life of the switch operating mechanism in which the same is installed.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifica- 3 tions will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. In a toggle switch operating mechanism including an outer bushing element having a principal axis and an axially aligned bore therein, and a toggle lever element arranged within said bore for pivotal movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to said principal axis, the improvement comprising: said bushing element having a radially extending recess communicating with said bore, said toggle lever element having a corresponding groove communicating with an outer surface thereof; and an annular flexible washer having an outer arcuate surface bonded in said recess, and an inner arcuate surface bonded in said groove.

2. In a toggle switch operating mechanism including an outer bushing element having a principal axis and an axially aligned bore therein, and a toggle lever element arranged within said bore for pivotal movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to said principal axis, the improvement comprising: said bushing element having a radially extending recess communicacting with said bore, said toggle lever element having a corresponding groove communicating with an outer surface thereof; and an annular flexible Washer of a rubber-like material having an outer arcuate surface bonded in said recess, and an inner arcuate surface bonded in said groove.

3. In a toggle switch operating mechanism including an outer bushing element having a principal axis and an axially aligned bore therein, and a toggle lever element arranged within said bore for pivotal movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to said principal axis, the improvement comprising: said bushing element having a radially extending recess communicating with said bore, said toggle lever element having a corresponding groove communicating with an outer surface thereof; and an annular flexible washer of silicone rubber having an outer arcuate surface bonded in said recess, and an inner arcuate surface bonded in said groove.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,744,984 5/ 1956 Hults 74-18.l X 2,984,726 5/ 1961 Roeser 200-172 3,024,146 3/ 1962 Bueche et al.

MILTON KAUFMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A TOGGLE SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM INCLUDING AN OUTER BUSHING ELEMENT HAVING A PRINCIPAL AXIS AND AN AXIALLY ALIGNED BORE THEREIN, AND A TOGGLE LEVER ELEMENT ARRANGED WITHIN SAID BORE FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID PRINCIPAL AXIS, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: SAID BUSHING ELEMENT HAVING A RADIALLY EXTENDING RECESS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID BORE, SAID TOGGLE LEVER ELEMENT HAVING A CORRESPONDING GROOVE COMMUNICATING WITH AN OUTER SURFACE THEREOF; AND AN 